The Chef Academy is our unique concept, designed to train our chefs to the top of the industry. This unique training program in Finland enhances our chefs’ professional skills and prepares them for success in industry competitions.
The purpose of the program is to coach chefs who are interested in competing and excelling in industry contests, such as Chef of the Year and Young Chef of the Year, helping them achieve even better results. In addition to competition readiness, the Chef Academy aims to support the professional growth and development of our staff.
The Chef Academy is a one-year training program that was launched for the first time at the beginning of 2025. Each year, around ten chefs from our hotel chain’s restaurants across the country are selected to participate. The program’s trainers include our own award-winning chefs as well as visiting top professionals.
"We have a tremendous amount of professional competence and a strong competitive background, and now this expertise can be utilised more extensively at the entire chain level. Several of our professionals have achieved great success in the industry’s competitions, and the aim is to continue to grow new talents among Finland’s top chefs,” says Tero Mäntykangas, Head Chef at Lapland Hotels and creator of the Chef Academy concept.
Chef Academy 2025
Coaches
Tero Mäntykangas
Who are you?
I am Tero Mäntykangas, the Head Chef at Lapland Hotels. I am responsible for the food products, their development, and new projects.
How did the idea for Chef Academy come about?
The desire to coach young talents, make them stronger, and give them the opportunity and tools to reach the peaks of the fells.
What do you want to teach the trainees through the Chef Academy?
Passion for the craft, ambition, and professionalism in the kitchen.
What is the most important lesson from your own career?
To be humble but not to humble oneself.
Your favorite ingredient?
My stomach can’t handle anything but reindeer – everything from snout to tail works for me.
Your motto?
If it comes easy, it only makes you soft.
Kim Slotte
Who are you?
I am Kim Slotte, Head Chef at Lapland Hotels Arena and the Head Coach of the Chef Academy.
What do you want to teach the trainees through the Chef Academy?
I want to share my passion for the restaurant industry and help participants push their limits in competition settings. Everyday work and competition strongly support each other, and all the effort put into competing can be fully transferred to daily tasks in terms of organization, efficiency, and cleanliness.
What is the most important lesson from your career as a chef?
Failure is allowed - what you do afterward defines you as a professional.
Your favorite ingredient?
Right now, I’m really into celeriac, and I would prepare a deep, umami-rich celeriac broth.
Your motto?
Nothing comes for free.
Ismo Sipeläinen
Who are you?
I am Ismo Sipeläinen, a 34-year-old chef and the winner of Chef of the Year 2015.
What made you join the Chef Academy?
It’s great to be part of a project from the very beginning – one that creates opportunities for employees to develop professionally. Not to mention how Lapland Hotels is also looking to evolve their own operations at the same time. I’m looking forward to seeing how the academy takes shape.
What do you want to teach the trainees through the Chef Academy?
Perhaps how small details come together to form a bigger picture.
What is the most important lesson from your career as a chef?
There’s always something new to learn.
Your favorite ingredient?
Onion – extremely versatile and suitable for so many uses.
Don't stay lying in the fire.
Trainees
Akseli Kailes
Executive Chef, Sky Kitchen & View
Lapland Hotels Sky Ounasvaara
What made you apply to the Chef Academy?
I wanted to develop myself as a professional, learn new things and challenge myself. The Chef Academy provided the perfect opportunity to challenge myself, learn in a new environment and build a strong foundation for a competition kitchen.
Your favorite ingredient?
King crab is my absolute favourite ingredient. In all its simplicity, I love making crab soup with it, where the raw material really comes into its own.
Your motto?
You learn by doing, you grow by failing.
Tatu Ollila
Kitchen Supervisor
Lapland Hotels Pallas
What made you apply to the Chef Academy?
The desire to learn and develop in the field and in competition made me apply to the Chef Academy.
Your favorite ingredient?
The first thing that came to mind was reindeer heart. It's versatile to cook: dried, fried, grilled, smoked - anything goes.
Your motto?
The best is Pallas.
Lotta Fomin
Chef, Sky Kitchen & View
Lapland Hotels Sky Ounasvaara
What made you apply to the Chef Academy?
I applied to the Chef Academy in search of new experiences. I want to keep learning new things and competing as a chef has been on my mind for a few years now. The Chef Academy provides a safe environment to experience the level of competition.
Your favorite ingredient?
Personally, I don't have a favourite raw material yet. I work with so many different types of raw materials. I like to work with fish and desserts are close to my heart.
Singpet Thanakon (Kiw)
Chef, Gallá Kitchen & Bar
Lapland Hotels Kuopio
What made you apply to the Chef Academy?
I was informed that such an opportunity is being organised in-house. I thought about it for a moment. After thinking about it, the decision was that I want to develop, I want to learn more, I want to see, to develop my skills.
Your favorite ingredient?
Mango and coconut milk. I like to use them to make Asian food like mango sticky rice and Bua loi. These are close to my heart.
Your motto?
What I start, I finish with honour.
Hugo Väänänen
Chef, Gallá Kitchen & Bar
Lapland Hotels Kuopio
What made you apply to the Chef Academy?
I applied to the Culinary Academy out of an eagerness to learn new things and to experience new opportunities.
Your favorite ingredient?
My favourite ingredient would probably be carrot and my favourite thing to make is carrot cake.
Your motto?
Jesse Viilola
Chef, Lapland Hotels Arena
What made you apply to the Chef Academy?
An interest in learning and the opportunity to better prepare for competitions.
Your favorite ingredient?
I don't really have a favourite ingredient, as it varies a bit with the seasons. But celery and lemon are probably my favourites.
Your motto?
Let's not get scared, make it fresh
Saranukul Intha (Kaitzu)
Chef, Sky Kitchen & View
Lapland Hotels Sky Ounasvaara
What made you apply to the Chef Academy?
I want to develop my own skills and build a good base for the Nordic Championships for chefs and prepare for the 2026 competition for young chefs. I also want to gain new experiences and get to know other kitchen professionals.
Your favorite ingredient?
For example whitefish, traditional Lapland potato, onions, all meats and birds.
Your motto?
Otto Hietamies
Shift Manager, Kultá Kitchen & Bar
Lapland Hotels Bulevardi
What made you apply to the Chef Academy?
I applied because I want to develop myself professionally and learn new things.
Your favorite ingredient?
My favourite raw material is onions because they work well as a condiment and on their own. For example, roasted onion puree is a great addition to a dish.
Your motto?
Hard work always pays off!
Renars Fraktnieks (Rellu)
Chef, Kultá Kitchen & Bar
Lapland Hotels Bulevardi
What made you apply to the Chef Academy?
The main reason for me to apply to the Chef Academy was that I want to develop my competition skills and to learn from coaches that have been in competitive scene before. Also to get more involved in the and to see were this journey that I started 2.5 years ago in this company can get me to.
Your favorite ingredient?
My favorite ingredient would be pasta if its something savory and everything with vanilla and lavender if its in desserts. Pasta is very versatile thing to use as you can make so much variations of pasta dishes. Vanilla and lavender is a great combination in ice creams and cake bases and easy develop around these two to create a delightful dessert.
Your motto?
Joel Manninen
Head Chef, Sky Kitchen & View
Lapland Hotels Sky Ounasvaara
What made you apply to the Chef Academy?
The opportunity to develop myself and learn from the best in the business. It's also always great to network with other passionate chefs.
Your favorite ingredient?
My favourite ingredient is reindeer because of its versatility. It's inspiring to make lesser-known parts from it and develop new ways to use them.
Your motto?
Stay humble. Dream big and work hard to achieve your dreams!